New research reveals that more of the region’s small businesses feel less confident about their future under the new Government than those who feel more confident, and many aren’t convinced it will keep its election promises.

The poll of 1,000 small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) for small business funder Liberis, found that 34% of the North West’s SMEs feel less confident about their business’ future since the election, compared with 25% who now feel more confident; 41% feel the same as before.

When questioned on the Government’s election pledges to small businesses, 34% don’t feel confident that they will be kept, whereas 32% do - 34% are undecided.

There is also a lack of confidence that access to finance will be made easier for SMEs, with 44% of companies not convinced it will happen, compared with just 22% who are.

Of the Government’s small business manifesto, North West businesses think that the top three most important and beneficial promises to them are: to cut red tape; a review of business rates; an a review of the disadvantages faced by the self-employed, including maternity pay and building up a pension.

However, 31% felt that the Conservative election manifesto hadn’t covered the key issues facing small businesses, compared with 26% who did.

Commenting on the findings, Liberis chief executive Paul Mildenstein, said, “Despite a majority win nationally, there’s still plenty of work needed to gain the confidence of the North West’s small businesses.

“Last week’s announcement of a new Enterprise Bill is a welcome start, but small businesses need to see the detail, a plan of action and a delivery timetable of all the support promised pre-election.”